Welcome

Welcome to the POZ/AIDSmeds Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and
others concerned about HIV/AIDS. Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the
conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive
and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a
username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own
physician.

All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators
of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ/AIDSmeds community forums.

We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please
provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are
true and correct to their knowledge.

Just what we need, another drug name to learn/remember. It drives me nuts. Most hiv meds have two, if not three and sometimes four, different names.

Here everyone usually uses the brand name. My doctor always uses the generic name so I have to learn both to be able to converse here and with him as well - because he can never remember the brand name. Arrgh!

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I first started learning about the meds one of the things I found the most daunting was remembering the multiple names of each drug. I still get them mixed up at times and often have to double-check to be 100% sure. Did I mention that it drives me NUTS?

Around ten years ago when I was first trying to learn all the names, I put them on some index cards I found lying around. One side was the generic and abbreviated name (ie ABC or 3TC) and the other side was the brand name. Ugh. Hiv med flash cards. How geeky is that?

And now that we're getting more and more multi-drug, multi-class pills, we get people referring to their component parts by their brand names or their generic names - and sometimes a combination of both.

And don't get me started on all the additional generic brand names like Viraday (generic Atripla).

No wonder newbies get confused.

[/rant]

I agree that it's an odd name (maybe that will help me remember it) - because of the bild, it makes me think a German-speaker came up with it. Sounds Germanic to me, anyway.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Is it too much? From what I understand this is the free market price. Gilead will subsidize for ADAP and Ryan White and transfer formulas for generic pills to manufacturers in developing countries. "Stril"....

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Remember, back in the day-- people would have given their left arms for even one effective med -- of any name. It's nice to be living in a time when we get to complain about all the names to remember. Just sayin..........

"Remember, back in the day-- people would have given their left arms for even one effective med -- of any name. It's nice to be living in a time when we get to complain about all the names to remember. Just sayin.........."

No I do not remember because I was too young at that time. I also do not remember when woman were not aloud to vote, when many innocent people died in WW2, when the black plague wiped out millions, when black people couldn't ride at the front of the bus. There are sadly an infinite number of instances of human suffering that I do not want to remember but I certainly do not want to forget.

You have insurance companies that are happy to cough up the +36% dollars over the price of Atripla for the same clinical effect? hmmmm

As a UK commentator said "Quad is a formulation of four compounds, all developed by Gilead: elvitegravir, cobicistat, tenofovir and FTC. It is a once-daily treatment, and can be taken with or without caviar."

I would be interesting to know whats going in the R&D departments of the big pharmas. Diagnosed today(maybe even folks with resistance now can go on Stribild) and it is a good chance you can go on with a once-a-day regimen, most reach undetectable fairly quick, CD4 goes up and people get on with their lives. How much better can the meds, as we know them today, get?

Just looking at the insert of any drugs and there will be warnings about possible side effects and adverse reactions. I just doubt there will be ARVs more effective than what we have today. Im not neglecting that people have issues but even without HIV health problems can and will arise.

"Remember, back in the day-- people would have given their left arms for even one effective med -- of any name. It's nice to be living in a time when we get to complain about all the names to remember. Just sayin.........."

No I do not remember because I was too young at that time. I also do not remember when woman were not aloud to vote, when many innocent people died in WW2, when the black plague wiped out millions, when black people couldn't ride at the front of the bus. There are sadly an infinite number of instances of human suffering that I do not want to remember but I certainly do not want to forget.

Just Saying

I think you misunderstood what a fellow LTS meant by his comment. It is a great thing to worry about all the names of the numerous effective medications as they were NONE when we were given the horrific news of a short life expectancy.

Not sure why you took exception to his comment and your reply had a snarky ring to it.

just sayin.

Wolfie

Logged

Complacency is the enemy. Challenge yourself daily for maximum return on investment.

I would be interesting to know whats going in the R&D departments of the big pharmas. Diagnosed today(maybe even folks with resistance now can go on Stribild) and it is a good chance you can go on with a once-a-day regimen, most reach undetectable fairly quick, CD4 goes up and people get on with their lives. How much better can the meds, as we know them today, get?

Just looking at the insert of any drugs and there will be warnings about possible side effects and adverse reactions. I just doubt there will be ARVs more effective than what we have today. Im not neglecting that people have issues but even without HIV health problems can and will arise.

Agreed -- meds are very good and I am very thankful. However, only 1 in 4 in the US are "under control", and fewer globaly. There are still folks that have challenges afording the meds, with the daily regimen, etc. Hopefuly we continue to see advances - like a longer acting (weekly, monthly) and less expensive alternatives.

You have insurance companies that are happy to cough up the +36% dollars over the price of Atripla for the same clinical effect? hmmmm

As a UK commentator said "Quad is a formulation of four compounds, all developed by Gilead: elvitegravir, cobicistat, tenofovir and FTC. It is a once-daily treatment, and can be taken with or without caviar."

- matt

Ha! Loved it!

The US is run by corporations. Of course they will adopt this, regardless of the price. Too bad for the rest of the world.

Remember, back in the day-- people would have given their left arms for even one effective med -- of any name. It's nice to be living in a time when we get to complain about all the names to remember. Just sayin..........

Mike

I totally agree. I'm grateful that we have all these meds, even if it does come with the frustration of having so many different names for single meds as well as for combo (one pill) meds. It's something we now have the luxury of grousing about and even poking a little fun at.

However, in no way does that disrespect the memory, the history of this pandemic. Because that's what I felt like you were "Just sayin........."

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

However, in no way does that disrespect the memory, the history of this pandemic. Because that's what I felt like you were "Just sayin........."

Oh no Ann -- I was not saying that at all. Although, in hindsight, I can see how that was one way to take it. I was merely pointing out that we are in a far better place when remembering the drug names is actually an issue.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Btw this is the article with the caviar comment.I share their criticism about Gilead's pricing.Quad's medical benefits over other existing medications is small and doesn't justify a +30% price tag (over Atripla). The other benefits of Quad are merely convenience (doesn't have to be taken with a 400kcal meal...)

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Atripla US annual wholesale cost $21,000, UK in your money $11-12,000 (£7,500). There is no link. The pricing systems are different. We pay less for the same drugs as you and pharma still makes a decent profit. Since the Quad has no special resistance busting qualities and costs a shed load more than other as-good-as 1 x day options I expect to see very few people on it in the UK.

I donīt know how big pharmas work... Viraday (eq. to Atripla) is around USD 360 for 30 tablets here and the 2 Indian tablets regime our health system give us should be much cheaper because they donīt buy Viraday because of its cost, my doc says...

Side effects seem the same........

For me, Iīm good with 2 tablets once a day...

I understand pharma corps earn money, but it has not to be done with a high cost for the states or for the people... Many problem we have with insurance (and work, and getting money from the bank and so on...) are because of these prices and sometimes, I think it is better to be living in a middle or low income state, with a responible health policy than in the "First World"

Drug companies could lower the prices they charge in the United States. Understand, doing so would cause prices to rise for the rest of the world. Low drug prices in the UK, Europe, and the third world are offset by high prices here.